The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1887-05-20
Preparing for the Democratic Cam
Daigu,

Senator German opened the proceedings
with an able speech, in which he set forth
some plain facts in defence Of Democratic
administration. He reviewed, briefly, the
general political history of Maryland since
the war. He said that the constitution
adopted by the Republican party in 1864 aud
the laws made Hereunder were the outcome
of power. fraud and corruption. The force
of public sentiment, however, was so over
whelmingly in favor of the Democratic doc
trine of fair elections and an honest count
that the Republicans were compelled TO open
the registry books and the result was a
sweeping Democratic victory in 1867. The
State debt,when the Democrats assumed con-
troll in 1868, was $1503s,941.11. In 1886 it
was $40 960,535.56 the reduction being over
four million dollars. Besides, during that
period the Democratic administration has
maintained the public schools, built Normal
School, Deaf and Dumb Asylum, Hos
pital for the Insane, House of Correction and
other internal improvements.
Senator German also emphasized the fact
that under Democratic rule no officer of the
State has proven recreant TO his trust, and with
the almost daily announcement of some public
officer in other communities having abscond-
ed with public funds, deiauler is unknown
in Maryland.
The excellence of the government Of the
State is not questioned, but Senator German
conceded that complaints are made against
the election laws. The elections in the coun-
ties, under the present registration law, are
fair, but in the city of Baltimore it is con-
tended that fair elections have not resulted.
Mr. German thought itnot remarkable that
out of nine hundred election officers in the
city of Baltimore ten or twenty have been
found who are negligent, incompetent or
corrupt. He advocated an annual registra-
ton in Baltimore and other cities Of ten
thousand or more inhabitants, instead of the
present system.
A number of resolutions were adopted
The preamble charges the discomfort in the
party upon its political foe, and adds, "but
the party itself stands to-day as clean, as
healthful and as strong as it stood score of
years ago, when it assumed the constitutional
control of the government Of the State"
The first resolution provides that Demo-
cratic convention shall meet in Baltimore, on
Wednesday, July 9Th, to nominate candi-
date for Governor, for Comptroller and for
Attorney General.
The second directs that primary meetings
shall be held in the respective counties, upon
the call of the members Of the Central Com
mittee from each county.
After providing for primary elections in
Baltimore city and the manner in which they
are to be conducted so as 10 ensure fairness,
the seventh resolution names Henry ID. Far
nandis, Henry Page, James Bond, Harry A.
Schultz, F. NJ. Cox, II. W. Talbot and Jas.
A. l.. Mcclure, Of the Central Committee, as
a board of supervisors, TO fully hear, fairly
determine and adequately redress all COM
plants of candidates for nomination at the
several primary elections in the respective
counties, for legislative and State offices.
They shall appoint judges and clerks of all
primary elections in Baltimore city for State
purposes, who shall be ofunquestoned char
acter and capacity, select the polling places
"away from any drinking saloon" &c.
This resolution caused some discussion.
DR.. Frank T. Shaw and others protested
against the exercise of supervisory power by
the State Central Committee over the county
primaries, and his amendment was adopted.
The eighth resolution is as follows:
That q convention be held at Bel Air, on
Thursday, the 4th day of August, 1887, to
nominate q candidate to be voted for as asso-
ciate Judge of the third judicial circuit, and
the county of Hartford shall be entitled to five
votes and the county Of Baltimore to seven
votes in that convention. The local COM
mittee of each of the said counties is hereby
authorized and directed to call q primary
meeting for the election of delegates from
such county to the said convention.
The proceedings of the State Central Com
mttee will meet with the hearty approval of
every Democrat. The organized head of the
party in the State has provided, by every
means in its power, 10 secure fair primaries
and honest elections in Baltimore city. The
action of the committee may be regarded as
a concession TO the just and proper demands
of Ex-Governor Hamilton and his followers
but whether intended as a sop to Cerberus or
not the fact that the committee has seen fit
to provide against frauds in primaries and at
the general election strengthens the position
of the reformers, and it must crafty them to
know that their efforts have not been in vain.